Separable button



(No Model.)

H. A. GABLES. SEPARABLE BUTTON.

No. 314,795. Patented Mar. 31, 1885.

UNITED STATES Aren't FFICJE.

HARTLEY A. GABLES, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA.

SEPAV/RABLE'IBUTTON.

tBPEfiIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 314,795, dated March 31, 1885..

Application filed June 17,1884. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, HARTLEY A. GABLES,

- a citizen of the United States, residing in the city of Philadelphia and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in separable Buttons, of which the following is'a specification.

; My invention relates to that class of fasten- ;one of the parts of said' device one or more sliding spring-prongs,and in forming the other part with bearings adapted to engage with said prongs, as fully described hereinafter, so that the parts may be securely connected by bringing them together and readily separated by pushing inward the prongs.

1n the drawings, Figure 1 is a longitudinal section showing my improved device as ap-' plied to securingtheshield of a necktie. Fig.

- 2 is an edge view, in part section, of thedevice shown in Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a plan of part of thedevice shown in Fig. 1. Figs. 4 and 5 are views illustrating different modes of constructing the'prongs. Figs. 6 and 7 are views illus trating different modes of retracting the prongs. Figs. 8, 9, and 10 are views illustrating the form of one of the socket-pieces and the mode of attaching the same to the shield. The fastener consists of two parts, A B. the former having a head, a, and stem 1), and the latter constituting'the socket adapted to receive the end of the stem. The stem 12 is flat in cross-section, so as to be retained in a horizontal position by the button-hole through which it passes, and an opening, or, in the socket'piece B is adapted to receive the flat end of the stem, so that the tie or other device fastened to the socket-piece is held in its substantial horizontal position without turnin a The connection between the two pieces A and B is secured by means of hooked prongs c, which are contained within the stem b, and the hooks e of which catch over the inturned edge 2'. of the socket-piece. The books a are inclined'back ward, and as they catch upon the inclined bearings i any force tending to sepa rate the parts A and B will also tend to carry the hooks farther outward or separate the: prongs, and thereby connect the two' part-s more securely.

The prongs are thrown outward either by a spring, f, placed between them, or by their own springaction, resulting from bending them inward or together, and they may be either made of two pieces of metal with coincidingrecesses and projections, as shown in Fig. 1,0r of a single piece, as shown in Figs. 4 and 6, or of wire, as shown in Fig. 5. The outer edges of the hooks e are beveled or inclined, so that the hooks will be forced within the easing to the position shown in Fig. 6 by the act of pushingthe stein into the socket, and they will spring out and catch upon the bearing 2'- as soon as the points pass the edge of the latter. In order to retract the hooks,that the parts B and A may be disconnected atter being at-' tached, as before described. the prongs are movable longitudinally within the stem b,and may be brought against suitable bearings, so that when pushed inward they will be drawn together and the hooks carried within the casing.

In Fig. lthe hooks are shown as secured to a stem or button, D, sliding in an opening in the head a, and the outer inclined ends of the hooks are opposite inclined bearing-faces y of the stem 12, and an inward movement imparted to the hooks, by pushing in the button D brings the inclined edges of the hooks against the in-' clined bearings y and retracts the hooks within the stem, carrying them away from the bearing 7?.

In Fig. 6 the pron' s are set at an angle to the button or pusher D,and are broughtagainst bearings y at thesides of the stem when the button is pushed inward, and in Fig.7 the ends of the prongs are shown as overlapping, with inclined slots crossing each other and receiving a pin, which constitutes the bearing against which the inclined edges are brought to retract the hooks.

The portion A-may be constructed in any suitable manner either fronrsheet metal and 5 with a closed stem, b, or of cast metal with an open stem and lips to hold the prongs in place. The button D may form part of the prongs, as shown in Fig. 7; but I prefer touse a capsule of thin metal notched and receiving -B is an eyelet orthin metal plate adapted for ready attachment to the shield J of the tie, or to take its place.

Oneform in which the'plate B may be made is shown in Figs. 8, 9, and 10, in which the center of the plate is stamped to form the inturned bearings i and cut away to form the transverse slot or socket w.

The plate may be secured to the shield by forming it with sharp projections or prongs t;

which are'bent at right angles to the plate and pass through the shield or back of the tie,and are bent down upon the opposite side of the latter or clinched. I prefer, however, to provide the plate at its inner side with eyes a, which may be passed through the shield and secured toxthe latter by. means of spring or other pins, 1, as shown in Fig.8. By this means the socketpiece is held firmly in place, but may be readily removed when necessary. The eyes and spring-pins also constitute a simple and inexpensive connection, even when the latter is intended to be permanent.

Although I have shown the device and have described the same as being provided with two spring-prongs, it will be apparent that in some instances a greateror less number may be employed.

When the'portion B of the fastening is inthe form of an eyelet, the tubular'part thereof has lateral perforations w to receive the hooks e, and is spread at the end to overlap the outer plate, a, as shown, so that the shield is firmly clasped between the two parts.

Without limiting myself to the precise con struction and arrangement of parts shown, I claim-'- v 1. A fastening deviceconsisti-ng of two portions, one of which is provided with a stem closed at its end and carrying one or more sliding spring-prongs having hooks projecting laterallythrough openings in the sides ofsaid stem, and bearings formed within the stem, whereby said hooks are retracted when the prongs are moved inward, and the other portion having a socket to receive the closed end of the stem and provided with apertures for said hooks, substantially as set forth.

2. The combination, with the socketed portion B of a fastening device, of the, portion a, having a hollow fiat stem secured thereto, spring-prongs sliding within and independent of said stem and secured to a pusher extending through the portion a, and inclined bearings formed within the stem and adapted to engage with the inclined edges of hooks formed on the ends of said prongs and projecting through openings in the stem, so that by the inward movement of the pusher the hooks are retracted within said openings and the portion B released, as and for the purpose set forth.

3. The combination, in a fastening device, of the portion a, provided with a hollow stem, and carrying prongs sliding therein, and pro-- vided with hooks inclined inward, and a socketed portion, B, having i-nturned edges and apertures for said hooks, substantially as.

set forth.

4. The combination, in a fastening device,

of the head a, stem 1), secured thereto, springfingers sliding in the stem and provided with hooked ends adapted to openings in said stem, and pusher D, consisting of a capsule of thin metal secured to the spring-fingers and ex.

tending through the head, substantially as set forth. I

5. The combination, in a fastening device, of the portion B thereof, adapted for attach ment to the shield of a tie, and consisting of an eyelet having a tubular part, 8, extending through the shield and provided with open-v ings 10, and a plate, 1), through which the tube 8 extends, and outside of which it is spread, and the portion a, provided witha stem hav ing suitable fastening devices and adapted to said tubular opening in the portion B, substantially as described. g

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification inthe presence of twoslrbscribing witnesses.

M. A. EISEN, Y WILLIAM S. 'II LAND. 

